Reinforced container structures



C. H. KEITH REINFORCED CONTAINER STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 17, 1962 INVENTOR. CZ/FFORD H. KE/TH C )2 d jQww ATTOA /VEY Zaf Jig. 3

United States l atent G Claims. (Cl. 229-27) This invention relates to improved containers and to improved blanks for making such containers. More specifically, this invention relates to heavy-duty containers being formed from paperboard or the like having reinforced bottoms, tops, 'and/ or side Walls thereof. This invention also relates specifically to improved blanks for making such heavy-duty containers and the like.

This application is a division of co-pending application Ser. No. 246,873 filed Dec. 17, 1962, entitled, Reinforced Container Structures, which was a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 843,498 filed Sept. 30, 1959, now U.S. Patent 3,069,062 entitled, Reinforced Container and Blanks Therefor, and which was, in turn, a continuation-in-part of an application, now abandoned, entitled, Container Structure for Packaging Nails, Ser. No. 768,691 filed Oct. 21, 1958.

It is well known in the container art that ordinary paperboard containers can not be readily utilized for heavy-duty purposes as the conventional structures lack sufficient strength and reinforcement means to support the relatively heavy loads of high dencity goods, nonrigid goods; and the like. Accordingly, when conventional paperboard containers are utilized for shipping and/ or storing high density goods and the like, the heavy loads of the goods that are imposed against the various walls of the container tend to rupture the same thereby resulting in subsequent loss and/or damage to the goods.

Many unsuccessful attempts have been made by various manufacturers in the past to provide a heavy duty container that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, relatively easy to assemble, and which is provided with sufiicient reinforcing means to support the relatively heavy loads of high density goods and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved heavy duty container.

It is another object to provide an improved container blank for forming such a container.

Another object is to provide an improved closure means for containers and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in container structures of the character set forth, improved blanks therefor so formed as to result in a minimum of wastage of material in the production of the same.

Other objects, uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View illustrating a con tainer structure forming an embodiment of this invention and showing the same in partly folded condition;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, the blank being utilized to form the container structure illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the container of FIGURE 1 showing the same fully assembled and in a partly closed condition.

While various container structures of this invention are hereinafter described, and in the above noted co-pending applications, as being particularly adapted for packaging nails, it is to be understood that these container structures are also readily applicable for packaging other types of high density goods, non-rigid goods and the like, and

, Efiiiiififi Patented Apr. I1, 1967 may also be utilized for any other desired purpose. Further, because of the double side walls of these containers, the same may have increased up and down strength and, therefore, these containers can be stacked with greater security and alignment. In particular, these containers are readily adaptable for palletizing and unitizing.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various figures thereof to designate like parts where appropriate. A container structure of this invention is shown in partly folded condition in FIGURE 1, the container structure being indicated generally by numeral 286. An improved blank of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 2 and may be utilized for forming the container structure 236 in a manner hereinafter described.

The improved blank is generally indicated by numeral 288. It is suitably cut and scored to define a first series of foldably connnected side wall means or panels 78, 80,

82 and 84, and a second series of foldably connected liner panel means or panels 86, 88, 9t and 92. Side wall means 78, Si), 82 and 84 are utilized to form the four outside walls of container structure 286 and liner panel means 86, 88, 9t and 92 are utilized to form the four inside walls of container structure 286 in a manner hereinafter described.

A bottom wall or connecting panel 94 is respectively foldably connected at opposed side edges thereof to bottom edges of panels 89 and Bottom walls or panels 96, 93 and 1% are respectively foldably connected at one of the side edges thereof to the bottom edges of liner panels 86, 9t and 92. A narrow interlocking fiat 162 is foldably connected to the terminal or outer edge of liner panel 92 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A series of foldably connected cover flap means or panels 164, 105, 1428 and 119 are respectively foldably connected at the inner or side edges thereof to the outer or top edges of side wall means or panels 78, 8'6, 32 and 84. Cover flap means or panels 106 and lit] respectively have extensions or free ends 112 extending a predetermined distance beyond outer edges 114 of the other pair of cover flap means 1G4- and 1%. Cover flap means 104 and 1% are each scored and/or slit on the inner surface thereof to define three triangular sections 116, 11-8 and 129 which form a bellows structure more fully described hereinafter. The width of each cover flap means PM or N8 is twice the heighth thereof for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

A pair of foldably connected fastening flaps 122 and 124 is respectively foldably connected to terminal or outer edges of respective panels Ill and 84. Fastening flap 122 is angularly scored at 126 for a purpose hereinafter described.

To form a container structure 286 from blank 288, blank 288 may be folded in many different ways, either manually or automatically and, for the purpose of illustration and not limitation, one method for manually forming carton structure 286 from blank 288 is as follows. Similar methods of assembling other container structures of this invention are also set forth in the above noted copending applications only for the purpose of illustrating one such folding method as many different methods may be utilized.

As illustrated, linear panel means 86, 83, 9t) and 92 are respectively bent perpendicularly to connecting bottom walls 94, 96, 98 and 100. Bottom walls 96, 98 and are superimposed respectively upon bottom Wall 94 to provide a four sided structure having four bottom walls. When blank 288 is formed of corrugated paperboard and the like, it can be seen that certain of the corrugations in bottom panels 96, 94, 98 and 106 extend transversely relative to certain of the other corrugations of the other bottom walls whereby further reinforcing of the bottom of container structure 236 is provided.

By merely grasping bottom walls 96, 93 and 100 and superimposing them upon each other, as noted above, the respective foldably connected liner panel means 86, 88, 90 and 92 will be automatically bent perpendicular to their respective bottom walls 96, 94, 98 and by the bending action resulting from superimposing the bottom walls into the stacked relation as noted above.

After liner panel means 86, 88, 90 and 92 and bottom walls 96, 94, 93 and 116i) have been thus folded and assembled, fiap 102, foldably connected to liner panel 92, is bent around the outside surface of liner panel as for the purpose of locking liner panels 86, 33, 9G and 92 together. Subsequently, the liner panel and bottom wall structure is bent perpendicular to side wall panel 84' whereby the liner panel means 92 is disposed parallel to and closely adjacent side wall means 3t} to provide a double side wall at that particular side of container structure 286.

Side wall means 78 is superimposed upon liner panel means 86 and, similarly, side wall means 82 and 84 are superimposed upon liner panel means 90 and 88.

Fastening flaps 122 and 124 are respectively disposed between liner panel 86 and terminal portions of cover flap means 194 and side wall means 78 and are fastened respectively to cover flap means 104 and side wall means 78 in any suitable manner such as by gluing, stapling or the like. If fastening flaps 122 and 124 are secured respectively to cover flap means 194 and side wall means 73 by staples, the staples may extend through lower fastening flap 124 into liner panel 85 to secure side wall means 78, fastening fiap 124 and liner panel means 35 together, if desired.

When it is desired to completely close structure 286, the opposed pair of outer flap cover means 1% and 110 is bent downwardly toward container structure 286 whereby the other pair of opposed inner cover flap means 104 and 108 form bellows structure therewith as the intermediate triangular portions 118 thereof project inwardly toward each other. As outer cover fiap means 106 and 110 are brought together, one of the free ends 112 of either cover flap means 106 or 110 is received under the free end 112 of the other cover flap means 106 or 110. For example, the free end 112 of cover fiap means 110 may be received between cover flap means 108 and the respective triangular portions 120 and 116 of inner cover flap means 104 and 108.

Continuing downward movement of cover flap means 106 and 110, from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3,

permits cover flap means 106 and 119 to be disposed substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the respective side wall means 8! and 84 without bending free ends 112 of cover flap means 19% and 110. Free ends 112 of cover flap means 166 and 110 are respectively adapted to overlap a portion of the other cover flap means 166, 110 when the cover means are fully closed.

Thus, it can be seen that blank 288 forms a container structure 286 having reinforced bottom, sides and top whereby the container structure can be utilized for transporting or storing high density goods. Further, when the container structure is closed in the above manner other containers can be readily stacked thereon.

Additionally, a pair of foldable divider panels 290 and 292 are carved out of and are respectively foldably connected to adjacent pairs of liner panel means 86, 88, 90 and 92. Divider panels 2% and 292 are adapted to selectively divide container structure 286 into four compartments in the following manner.

When it is desired to divide container structure 286 into compartments, divider panels 290 and 2532 are folded inwardly toward the center of container structure 286 whereby four compartments 2"4- are provided, If it is desired not to compartmentize container structure 286, divider panels 290 and 292 are folded outwardly whereby the sarrie cooperate with respective liner panel means 86, S8, 90 and 92 to form a double walled container structure.

While only particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a series of foldably connected outer side wall means each having a top edge and a bottom edge, a first bottom wall having a pair of opposed side edges, said first bottom wall being foldably connected at one of said side edges thereof to the bottom edge of one of said outer side wall means, a series of foldably connected inner side wall means each having a top edge and a bottom edge, one of said inner side wall means being foldably connected at the bottom edge thereof to the other of said side edges of said first bottom wall, said series of inner side wall means being disposed closely adjacent to at least part of said series of outer wall means, a plurality of reinforcing bottom walls having opposed side edges and being respectively foldably connected at one of the side edges thereof to the bottom edges of certain of the remaining inner side wall means, said reinforcing bottom walls being superimposed on said first bottom wall in a predetermined stacked relation, and a foldable divider panel foldably connected to and carved out of an adjacent pair of said inner side wall means to compaitmentize said container.

2. A container comprising a series of four foldably connected side wall panels each having a top edge and a bottom edge, a first bottom Wall having a pair of opposed side edges, said first bottom Wall being foldably connected at one of said side edges thereof to the bottom edge of one of said side Wall means, a series of four foldably connected liner panel means each having a top edge and a bottom edge, one of said liner panels being foldably connected at the bottom edge thereof to the other of said side edges of said bottom wall, said side walls being superimposed on said liner panels, a plurality of reinforcing bottom walls having opposed side edges and being respectively foldably connected at one of said side edges thereof to said bottom edges of certain of the remaining liner panel means, said reinforcing bottom walls being superimposed on said first bottom wall in a predetermined stacked relation, and a pair of foldable divider panels being respectively foldably connected to and carved out of adjacent pairs of said foldably connected liner panels to selectively divide said container into four compartments.

3. A blank for a container, said blank being cut and scored to define a series of foldably connected liner panel means each having a top edge and a bottom edge, a foldable divider panel foldably connected to and being carved out of an adjacent pair of said foldably connected liner panel means, a first bottom wall having a pair of opposed side edges and being respectively foldably connected at said side edges thereof to the bottom edges of one of said side wall means and one of said liner panel means, and a plurality of reinforcing bottom walls having opposed side edges and being respectively foldably connected at one of the side edges thereof to the bottom edges of certain of the remaining liner panel means, said blank being foldable to form said container whereby said series of liner panel means is adapted to be disposed closely adjacent to at least part of said series of side wall means and said divider panel is adapted to compartmentize said container and said reinforcing bottom walls are adapted to be superimposed on said first bottom wall in a predetermined stacked relation.

4. A blank for a container, said blank being cut and scored to define a series of four foldably connected side Wall panels each having a top edge and a bottom edge, a series of four foldably connected liner panels each having a top edge and a bottom edge, a pair of folda'ble divider panels each being carved out of an adjacent pair of said foldably connected liner panels, a first bottom wall having a pair of opposed side edges and being respectively foldably connected at said side edges thereof to the bottom edges of one of said side walls and one of said liner panels, and a plurality of reinforcing bottom walls having opposed side edges and being respectively foldably connected at one of the side edges thereof to the bottom edges of certain of the remaining said liner panels, said blank being foldable to form said container whereby said series of side walls are adapted to be superimposed on said series of liner panels and said divider panels are adapted to divide said container into four compartments and said reinforcing bottom walls are adapted to be superimposed on said first bottom Wall in a predetermined stacked relation.

5. A blank for a container, said blank being cut and scored to define a series of folda'bly connected side wall means each having an inner edge and an outer edge and being adapted to define four sides of said container, a series of three liner panel means each having inner, outer and opposed side edges, a first bottom wall having a pair of opposed edges and being respectively foldably connected at the edges thereof to the inner edges of one of said side wall means and to the middle liner panel means of said series thereof, a pair of additional bottom walls each having opposed pairs of edges and being respectively foldably connected at one of the edges thereof to the inner edges of the outer liner panel means of said series thereof, and a fourth liner panel means having inner, outer and opposed side edges and being foldably connected at the inner edge thereof to a remaining edge of one of said pair of bottom walls, said blank being foldable to form said container whereby said liner panels are adapted to be disposed closely adjacent said four sides of said container to form a double wall container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,702,662 2/1955 Crawford 229l6 2,808,177 10/ 1957 Buttery 22927 2,854,181 9/1958 Smith 22927 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A SERIES OF FOLDABLY CONNECTED OUTER SIDE WALL MEANS EACH HAVING A TOP EDGE AND A BOTTOM EDGE, A FIRST BOTTOM WALL HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE EDGES, SAID FIRST BOTTOM WALL BEING FOLDABLY CONNECTED AT ONE OF SAID SIDE EDGES THEREOF TO THE BOTTOM EDGE OF ONE OF SAID OUTER SIDE WALL MEANS, A SERIES OF FOLDABLY CONNECTED INNER SIDE WALL MEANS EACH HAVING A TOP EDGE AND A BOTTOM EDGE, ONE OF SAID INNER SIDE WALL MEANS BEING FOLDABLY CONNECTED AT THE BOTTOM EDGE THEREOF TO THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE EDGES OF SAID FIRST BOTTOM WALL, SAID SERIES OF INNER SIDE WALL MEANS BEING DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT TO AT LEAST PART OF SAID SERIES OF OUTER WALL MEANS, 